BDP at the V&A

The Sorrell Foundation exhibition joinedupdesignforschools, shown at the Victoria and Albert Museum between February 21 and March 18, featured BDP in two of its examples. The exhibition reports on a series of teaching projects where schoolchild "client teams" worked with designers to produce improvement proposals for an aspect of their school. The enthusiasm and skill development of the children is infectiously conveyed.

BDP architect director Keith Papa acted as designer/tutor for Castleview School in Slough to enable them actually to see Windsor Castle from a new school, as well as meeting other client-set goals. The work with Castleview School culminated in an architectural proposal which was driven by the pupil client group's requirements, as well as developing a consultation process for involving school pupils in the design of their new school. BDP hopes to put this process to good use in its work with a number of new school projects.

BDP's innovative Hampden Gurney primary school in Westminster was the scene for a second exercise with Mark Hales, designing play settings for its covered play decks.